Harrison Brothers: More Than a Store

It was an honor to be nominated, and we never expected to win, but we are deeply grateful to everyone who voted for Harrison Brothers as the Best Downtown Huntsville Retail Establishment of 2026. Winners were announced at the Downtown Huntsville, Inc. awards program on January 29 at Mars Music Hall. 

Since 1879, Harrison Brothers has been part of Huntsville’s commercial life. That history gives us a unique perspective on the challenges facing locally owned retail shops today. Retail is a hard business in 2026, especially when it is so easy to click and shop from home. 

But those clicks come at a cost to our community. Locally owned shops employ local residents and strengthen the economy close to home. At last count, 

Harrison Brothers carries the goods of over 150 local artists and vendors, 

providing a marketplace for local artists, artisans, and makers to connect with customers to grow their businesses. Shopping local is also an investment in our area’s infrastructure, funding critical services such as schools, roads, and police 

and fire protection. 

The Historic Huntsville Foundation purchased Harrison Brothers in 1984 to keep an established retail business on Huntsville’s historic courthouse square. Today, through walking tours, museum exhibitions, and educational events, the store serves as a hub of activity that connects visitors and shoppers from around the world with Huntsville’s history, local makers, and community life. Through this, Harrison Brothers is a strong contributor to Huntsville’s broader economic development through tourism, local retail, and support for local makers. 

At a time when so many things seem beyond our control, shopping local is a meaningful choice we can make that directly benefits our community.